Locking device for boxes and containers.



-APPLlCATl0N FILED JULY 30, 19 15.

Patented Oct. 26, 1915 2 SHEETS-SHEETI COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c ISAAC B. KELLER, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNUR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE C. FRANKLIN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR BOXES AND CONTAINERS.

Application filed July 30, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC B. KELLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Looking Devices for Boxes and Containers, and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to boxes or containers and my object generally stated is to provide a securing device which will. have the important advantages of simplicity in con struction and manipplation and the absence of strings or loose parts and to this end my invention consists in the box locking means having the construction substantially as hereinafter specified and claimed.

The embodiment ofmy invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as applied to a box made of pasteboard or paper, comprising two telescopic members one constituting the container element and the other the cover element, and in such drawingFigure 1 is a perspective view of such embodiment of my invention with the box parts closed and locked. Fig. 2 is a vertical section with the partsin the position shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the box parts separated.

As already indicated, the box shown in the drawings comprises an inner receptacle member 10, and an outer closure member 11, the one fitting within the other with a loose fit so that they may be readily telescoped in opening and closing; Preferably but not necessarily the end and side walls are of substantially the same dimensions so that the inner member is contained completely within the outer member and to facilitate their separation the side walls of the outer member have each a cut-away portion or notch 13, that exposes the sides of the inner member 10, for the convenient grasp of the thumb and finger.

The locking device comprises a strip 14:, which may be of heavy paper or card-board adapted to be inserted between the walls of .the inner and outer box members and a strip or band 15, attached to and extending from one end thereof to the opposite end or side Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Got. 2% 1915..

$eria1 No. 42,825.

tween the walls of the two box members said connection will extend across the wall of the inner box member 10, which is uncovered by the outer closure member. It must be seen that any outward tendency of the inner box member or tendency of the two box members to separate will result in an outward pressure being applied to the strip or band 15, the effect of which is to place such band under tension that acts to pull the locking strip 15, against the side of the inner box member and thus to increase the friction thereon with the result that a firm lock is produced, the grip of the lock strip being, in fact, increased by the tendency of the two box parts to separate.

ously very simple and can be done very expeditiously. It is important that the locking strip 15, be of some flexible material, such as heavy paper or pasteboard to facilitate its insertion and removal because, in these acts there is a turning movement of the connecting band or strip 14, on its point of connection with the outer box member 11, which causes the point of the connection of said connecting band with the locking strip to move in a circle to which the space between the end walls ofthe two box parts is tangent and hence, the locking strip mustbe capable of conforming more or less to the curvature of the are thus described. To secure the best results the length of the free portion of the connecting a band 14, is the distance between the side of the box to which it is attached and the opposite side where the locking strip is in serted so that when the locking strip is inserted in a locked position the said connect- 'ing band will be fairly taut. In manufacturing the device the connecting band 1%,

is first attached to the locking strip then the two box parts are placed together, the

locking strip is inserted between the end walls and then the connecting band is I stretched across the outer wall of the inner str ng connection therewith.

moval. of the locking strip, may also be made oflinen or other suitable material,

' and when so made is in the form of a strip as shown in the drawings, thatextends to the bottom and top of the locking strip 15, and at the free end'of the latter is folded around and pasted or glued thereto so as to make a Of course the v'iiexible connection 15 and tab 16 ma be otherwise made and made of other material and 1n such respects and in regard to other matters of detail, although I prefer the con struction shown, I desire to have it understoodv that variation may be made without The. tab 16, being of departing from the scope of my'invention. flexible material, of course :bends or folds down out of the way.

My invention is of special value in the parcell post service in that a minimum of timeaandtwork .is required in opening the container "and again closing and securing the parts together.

Havingthus described I claim is 1. A box comprising container and closure members'with overlapping walls, one of said members having an exposed wallextending my invention what from one of its overlapped walls to its opposite overlapped wall and having a locking device CODSlSCIH of a member lnsertible between andremovable from said overlapping box member.

walls free from both of said walls and a connection between said device and one of the box membersthat reaches from said looking member across said exposed wall of the .2. A box comprising container and closure members with overlapping walls, oneof said members having an exposed wall extending from one of its overlapping walls to its opposite overlapped wall and having a locking device consisting of a strip insertible between said overlapping walls and removable therefrom said strip being free from both of the walls between which it is insertible and a connection between said strip and a wall of the closure member opposite said overlapping walls between which said strip is insertible and removable and extending across said exposed wall.

3. A box comprising container and closure members with overlapping walls, one of said members having an exposed wall extending from one of its overlapped walls to its opposite overlapped wall and having a locking device consisting of a strip insertible between said overlapping walls and removable therefrom said strip being free from both of the walls between which it is insertible and a connection between said strip and a all of the closure member opposite said overlapping walls, between which said strip is insertible and removable and extending across said exposed wall and a tab attached to said locking member.

' 4. A box comprising container and closure members with overlapping walls, having a locking device consisting of a flexible strip insertible between said overlapping walls and removable therefrom said strip being free from both of the walls between which it is insertible and a connection between said flexible strip and a wall of the closure member opposite said overlappin g walls, between which said strip is insertible and removable and extending across said exposed all and a tab attached to said locking member.

5. A box comprising telescopic members one of which incloses the other except at one side, having a locking means consisting of a strip of flexible material insertible between contiguous walls of said members and removable therefrom' and a band attached to said strip and extending over the exposed portion of the inner box member and attached to the wall of the outer box member opposite the place of insertion of said strip.

6. A box comprising a member having an open side that gives access to its interior, and a member to cover such open side, the box having double, closely spaced walls, at one side of said open side, means for preventing the removal of said cover member comprising a strip removably fitting the space between said walls, and a V band connected therewith that reaches across said cover member from the strip to an opposite wall of the box and attached to the latter.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ISAAC B. KELLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C." 

